Preview: Brace yourself for Fear the Walking Dead 6B

You’re not ready for what’s coming in Fear the Walking Dead 6B. Forget everything you thought you knew because the second half of season 6 is about to blow it all sky high. The stakes have never been higher and the stage is set for big changes on the horizon. And it will be dark. Oh yes. It will be dark.

For the Fear TWD naysayers who have been concerned that the show lost its edge over the past few seasons, the first two episodes of the back half of season 6 will lay out where the show is heading. This is a no holds barred season where everyone is at risk, and there will be blood. Lots of blood.

As a refresher, here’s what you need to know about the first two episodes of Fear the Walking Dead season 6B:

"Episode 608: “The Door” – Airdate: April 4 (AMC+) or April 11, 2021 (AMC)A reunion with an old friend helps pull John Dorie out of his darkest moment yet. Back at Lawton, Virginia demands answers.Written By: Ian Goldberg, Andrew ChamblissDirected By: Michael E. SatrazemisEpisode 609: “Things Left to Do” – Airdate: April 15 (AMC+) or April 18, 2021 (AMC)A stand-off occurs between Virginia and her rangers and Morgan’s group. Ginny has made a lot of enemies and it’s finally catching up to her.Written By: Nick BernadoneDirected By: Michael E. Satrazemis"

Fear the Walking Dead lays it all on the line in season 6B

The first two episodes of the second half of the season were made available to the media and if they are any indication of what the rest of the season will be like, then Fear TWD has officially surpassed The Walking Dead as the series that pushes boundaries in a big way.

(Don’t get me wrong, I love TWD but Fear the Walking Dead is pushing boundaries the way TWD did in its early seasons and every story is fresh and new. Nothing is sacred and no one is safe, giving these two episodes a frenetic, no-idea-what’s-coming-next feel to them.)

608 and 609 feature all of the classic elements that made TWD what it is: Walkers, death, blood and gore, and a story of survival that’s as complicated as everything else in this strange world.

Both episodes are directed by the incomparable Michael E. Satrazemis and they have his trademark style all over the place. (I particularly love the combination of Satrazemis and Director of Photography Adam Suschitzky, who manage to take the most horrifying scenes and events and make them stunningly beautiful)

You will see and hear callbacks to season 4 and 5 in these episodes, highlighting the fact that the seeds for this season were being sown all the way back then and now they’re growing – for better or for worse.

Since 608 would have been the mid-season finale and 609 is the mid-season premiere, they are distinctly huge episodes and being able to see them back to back in the span of a week will change how they hit you, but they both hit with such a wallop that you don’t notice you’ve been holding your breath the whole time.

Everyone shows up at some point (with a few exceptions). Everyone has a role to play. Some of the best performances in the episode come from the most unexpected places, so keep your eyes wide open. Colman Domingo is in his glory as Virginia’s dapper ranger. He commands attention in every scene, while Garret Dillahunt takes us back to his incredible performance in season 4’s “Laura”.

Lennie James is clearly having fun with the “new” Morgan and Alycia Debnam-Carey delights with the no-nonsense side of Alicia Clark. A pregnant Grace gives Karen David the opportunity to deliver an emotional performance, while Jenna Elfman delivers one of her most memorable performances yet.

“The Door” sets up “Things Left to Do” nicely, and fans will be buzzing after both episodes because they have several major moments that set up the rest of the season in a big way. If you’ve been wondering whether now is a good time to start watching Fear TWD, the answer is yes. Very much yes. Everything has been building to this moment, and nothing will ever be the same again.

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